Scott Fisher would like to invite 180GO and all IKE members to the July 3rd Fireworks Kite Festival at Veterans Park (Milwaukee) on Sunday, July 3rd.

Scott will supply meal tickets and parking passes for those who attend and will be participating in the fly. If you are planning on attending please let me know (reply) with your name and address and I will make sure you get a parking pass.

(However FYI)... There are changes to the event... : (

Bank One, who is sponsoring the fireworks, has chosen to have the fireworks fired from a barge, rather than the on-land display as in the past. Therefore, there will be NO chain-link fencing dividing the kite field from the spectators. Scott will be roping-off a fly area and has asked the kiting participants to self-police the area. He said the area will be large and will most likely be situated on/at the normal kite-fests (west) performance field area. So...the kiters will be surrounded by spectators, separated by a roped area including "warning - stunt kites" signs. This will obviously impact the/our past fest routine, the previous up-front seating, and viewing of fireworks. We are permitted to set-up in the kiting field area and can remain there for the fireworks show.

I'm sure it'll be fun but I wanted to make sure those attending were informed of these changes.

Please contact Scott Fisher (or me) if you have any questions.

[align=center]"When the power of love becomes more important than the love of power, then there will be peace"[/align][align=center]-Jimi Hendrix[/align]

Who's thinking of going?
For me, it's a long drive and the cost of gas + hotel is causing me to lean towards "maybe next year."

My concern is that people wont respect the boundaries set up for the kiters. The spectators camp all day to get a good spot for the fireworks and they may not appreciate a large roped off area reserved for a dozen kiters. Especially after they've been drinking for a bit.

I could be totally wrong, it's just a guess on my part.

If I lived within a couple hours of Milwaukee I would go. It's not much of a gamble. If it doesn't work you can always just head home. If it does work out, you have a great time flying kites during the day and really good fireworks show in the evening.

Sorry for raining on our parade... BUT I didn't want anyone "surprised" (disappointed) when they got here!

These changes were made by US Bank who sponsors the event and the Milwaukee County Parks (fencing)... Scott had nothing to do with the changes and will do his very best to accommodate the fliers that attend.

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FYI ~ Milwaukee news report:

"After more than 30 years the Bartolotta family will not be putting on the 4th of July fireworks on the lakefront. It's not clear tonight why that tradition has been broken, neither side would say.

But when you think about the July 3rd fireworks on Milwaukee's lake front, one family name comes to mind. "Bartollota," said Levi Johnson. When told the Bartollota's would not be doing this year's show, Johnson said: "Ah, that would be disappointing.

The Bartollota family has been doing the fireworks show for three decades. It's a must see tradition for Lori O'Gorman's family. She's disappointed with the change. "It's very sad," said O'Gorman. "It's been a tradition for so long."

The Bartollota's issued a statement saying matching budgets and sponsors expectations are always a delicate balance act. The family says U.S. Bank went with an out of state company.

U.S. Bank is down playing the change saying the fireworks show is "our gift to the region and we needed a partner going forward that could make the show even bigger and better in the future. That means the show will go on, but loyal fans like Kim Eigner are skeptical, "I hope that it will be as wonderful as it has been all these years, it's a little disappointing though."

U.S. Bank says it's not cutting back on its budget for this year's show. Bartolotta plans to pursue the show in 2012".

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Hopefully it'll work out for those of us who attend! ...I'm crossing my fingers for Bartolotta's return next year!

[align=center]"When the power of love becomes more important than the love of power, then there will be peace"[/align][align=center]-Jimi Hendrix[/align]